Fenty's 39th Birthday Bash All Set

Party down at the Old Mayoral Mansion site

Fenty’s 39th Birthday Bash Set for Old Mayoral Mansion Site was originally published on City Desk on Nov. 20, 2009, at 4:16 p.m.
 

The time has almost come for Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's annual birthday spectacle.

Two years ago, Fenty threw a grand, open-door party at the Washington Convention Center. A year ago, Fenty kicked off his re-election campaign with a massive fete at the Forest Hills home of local developer Chris Donatelli. This year, for Hizzoner's 39th, the birthday bash/campaign fundraiser will also take place at a tony, oversized residence. This one, however, isn't occupied by any developer.

In fact, it's vacant. The Dec. 5 event will be held at 1821 Hoban Road N.W., a 7,000-square-foot, six-bedroom model home built as part of the Residences at 1801 Foxhall, a development of 27 single-family homes in the upscale Ward 3 neighborhood.

According to an e-mail sent out to Fenty supporters, guests will "mingle in a signature Fenty outdoor tent" and can "do a dine-around on quick healthy bites of tacos, turkey chili or mac and cheese catered by On The Fly" -- the ex-business of Fenty transportation director Gabe Klein. Oh yes: "There will also be a large cache of Wine, Beer & Soft Drinks."

There is a slight bit of irony to the location: The 1801 Foxhall residences are being built on the site once proposed for a grand mayoral manse.

Potomac, Md., philanthropist Betty Brown Casey (widow of developer Eugene Casey and the name behind Casey Trees) had proposed donating the former Marjorie Merriweather Post estate to the city and building a grand residence thereupon, to be named Casey Mansion. She even bought some $2 million worth of furniture for the dwelling. Alas, after years of feuding with neighbors, activists, federal and local officials, Casey dropped the plan in 2003.

St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School bought the property and in turn sold a portion to McLean-based Elm Street Development to finance a new campus for the school.

If you attend the fundraiser and like the house, it can be yours for $3,849,000.

Copyright CITYP - Washington City Paper
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